Make the Call Yourself Treat it like a job application; they are unlikely to be impressed if one of your parents or a teacher has to make the call instead of you. Besides, the university will be unable to talk to your parents because they are not allowed to discuss your application with others.
Re-read your personal statement so you are familiar with what you said and can talk about any experiences or extra-curricular activities you discussed there.
Be sure to demonstrate an enthusiasm for your course and institution. If you get upset or flustered then take a deep breath and start again. It’s important that you stay positive and sell yourself, rather than focusing on the negatives and where you might not have done so well.
Make Notes During the Call Have a pen and paper handy to jot down notes as you go. Amid all the anxiety about presenting yourself positively, you may forget what the person is actually telling you. If you’re making a lot of phone calls it’s easy to get confused or misremember something important.
Keeping job titles, dates and times noted as well as a summary of what you said and what they said is also a good idea. This will make it easier to get back in direct contact should you need to.
Have Some Constructive Questions to Ask Them
Clearing interviews are not just a chance for tutors to see if you are right for their university, but also for you to work out if they are the right choice for you. Do your research and, if you have questions, be sure to ask them. This is a big decision for you, so you need to make sure you have all the facts.
Check what entitlement to accommodation and bursaries you have as a Clearing applicant, as this can vary from university to university. You might also want to ask about open days and opportunities to visit the university so that you can have a look around. Asking questions makes you look keen, inquisitive and motivated – all good qualities that tutors look for.
Ask for Email Confirmation
If the university decides to give you a verbal offer, ask them to confirm their offer (and how long it stands for) in an email. This will ensure there is no room for misinterpretation and, if there are any problems later, then you have written evidence of your offer.
Be Persistent and Flexible
If at first you don’t succeed... keep plugging away. Even after you’ve got an offer you can carry on calling other universities. You might be able to get more than one offer and then decide which of these you wish to add as your Clearing choice on UCAS Track.
The situation can change quickly. Even if a university wasn’t interested in you initially, there is no harm in trying again a few days later if places are still available. If you find yourself on a reserve list, maintain contact with the university to demonstrate your continued interest.
You are more likely to be successful in finding a place in Clearing if you are flexible and consider similar courses to the one you originally applied for. A lot of courses have similar content and you might be interested in Joint Honours courses such as English and History. Check the course content carefully to see if it interests you and what options you have to change to a single honours course later.
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